The LGA said there were 2,056 cases of theft recorded in 2015 compared with 1,756 in 2014 and 656 in 2013.

However, the LGA disputed the accuracy of the DfT’s report on councils’ lack of policies, saying that some councils listed as not having a policy for prosecuting abuse of the scheme do have reporting mechanisms for such incidents.

A spokesman for the LGA said: “Councils take blue badge fraud seriously and are working hard to combat it.

“Gathering evidence and mounting a prosecution can be time-consuming and expensive, but councils know their areas and are best placed to decide the most effective way to tackle it.”